107K views · 2.8K reactions | On Friday the 13th, 1942, the US Navy clashed with Imperial Japanese forces in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The conflict led to the destruction of ships on both sides, but ended in a strategic US victory. | HISTORY | Facebook

It’s pitch black as a US task force of ships find themselves in the midst of a powerful fleet of Japanese vessels, just off the coast of the Pacific island of Guadalcanal. What ensued would go down as one of the most intense, close-quarter naval firefights of WW2. An epic sea battle, matched only by the heroics of the American sailors who fought it. See it all during this week's all-new episode of Combat Ships, Sunday at 8/7c! | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation